In the hands of talented writers, UST is fun. On rare occasions, it's a delight. Mostly, however, writers use the device to taunt viewers. Networks and/or the writers play the highly manipulative, two- steps forward one-step back game, often over the course of several seasons. UST is a cheap and easy technique for getting viewers to cling desperately week-after-week-after-week

But the networks and showrunners are playing with fire, too. When a series RUSTs-out - due to RELENTLESS unresolved sexual tension - once loyal audiences can quickly turn into furious web mobs. And their word of mouse can be scathing and potentially damaging - which is pretty much what's happening at the moment to Grey's Anatomy.